NBA draft: top prospects by position

Thursday

Jun 28, 2007 at 12:01 AMJun 28, 2007 at 11:21 AM

Kevin Durant TEXAS 6 FEET 10, 215 POUNDS

Small Forward Kevin Durant TEXAS 6 FEET 10, 215 POUNDS

• Where he'll be picked: Top two

• The skinny: Some scouts invoke the name of Dirk Nowitzki to describe Durant. Others say he has some Kevin Garnett and Tracy McGrady in him. That gives you an idea of his potential. He'll likely begin his career at small forward and pick up more minutes at power forward as he gets stronger.

Jeff Green GEORGETOWN 6 FEET 9, 228 POUNDS

• Where he'll be picked: 5-10

• The skinny: He's just scratching the surface. Green is athletic, strong and agile enough to defend several different positions. He seems uncomfortable on the perimeter at times, but he makes shots and is a willing passer.

Corey Brewer FLORIDA 6 FEET 7, 185 POUNDS

• Where he'll be picked: 5-10

• The skinny: Several general managers worry about his frame and question his ability to put the ball on the floor and create his own shot. Still, he moves well without the ball and can come off screens and shoot. His long arms allow him to disrupt the passing lanes.

Julian Wright KANSAS 6 FEET 8, 211 POUNDS

• Where he'll be picked: 5-10

• The skinny: One of the most versatile athletes in the draft, he runs the court and is explosive near the rim. Wright needs to improve his range and create off the dribble, but he's a good passer. One general manager believes Wright's niche will be similar to Shawn Marion's in Phoenix.

Al Thornton FLORIDA STATE 6 FEET 7, 221 POUNDS

• Where he'll be picked: 10-15

• The skinny: A polished one-on-one scorer, Thornton attacks the basket with a quick first step, has three-point range and is quick to the offensive glass. He's a good defender. He doesn't have a great feel for the game but plays with confidence and intensity.

NEXT IN LINE

Thaddeus Young (Georgia Tech) 6 feet 7, 210 pounds Pick: 10-18

• Athletic with a good stroke and a beautiful jump hook

Wilson Chandler (DePaul) 6 feet 8, 230 pounds Pick: 20-30

• Lacks polish, but there's a lot there to develop

Aaron Afflalo (UCLA) 6 feet 5, 215 pounds Pick: 25-32

• Tough, smart, can shoot and is a strong defender

Alando Tucker (Wisconsin) 6 feet 6, 205 pounds Pick: 25-32

• Runs the floor and isn't afraid to take the big shots

Derrick Byers (Vanderbilt) 6 feet 7, 220 pounds Pick: 25-32

• A complete player, though no one thing stands out

Power Forward Brandan Wright NORTH CAROLINA 6 FEET 10, 200 POUNDS

• Where he'll picked: 3-8

• The skinny: He's arguably the third-most talented player in this draft. He has a nice touch around the basket and can score with either hand. He's skilled enough to play some small forward, and his wingspan (nearly 7-5) allows him to block shots. Some think he's too smooth, meaning he's not mean enough.

Joakim Noah FLORIDA 7 FEET, 223 POUNDS

• Where he'll be picked: 5-8

• The skinny: A high-energy player who is in constant motion -- think Cleveland's Anderson Varejao, only with more skill. He gets off his feet quickly to block shots and is a good help defender. He handles the ball well for a player his size, is a good passer and knows how to make plays. He's not a great offensive player, however, and needs to add range to his jump shot.

Yi Jianlian CHINA, 6 FEET 11, 238 POUNDS

• Where he'll be picked: 8-15

• The skinny: At least one general manager believes Jianlian's more ready to contribute as a rookie than Brandan Wright. He can take his man off the dribble. He doesn't have much of a post game, but he doesn't shy away from contact. He has a nice jump shot, can run the court and pass out of the double team. His lack of upper-body strength is an issue.

NEXT IN LINE

Tiago Splitter (Spain) 6 feet 11, 232 pounds Pick: 15-20

• Dependable defender and rebounder, and has an NBA body

Jason Smith (Colorado State) 6 feet 11, 233 pounds Pick: 15-25

• Outstanding shooter who is at his best facing the basket

Josh McRoberts (Duke) 6 feet 10, 240 pounds Pick: 20-30

• Role player who can handle ball and pass from low post

Center Greg Oden OHIO STATE 7 FEET, 257 POUNDS

• Where he'll be picked: Top two

• The skinny: He would have been the first pick in last year's draft if the rules hadn't changed. He can dominate a game defensively. He rebounds, blocks shots and competes hard. He also runs the floor well. His injured right wrist forced him to develop his left and made him a better offensive player.

Al Horford FLORIDA 6 FEET 9, 246 POUNDS

• Where he'll be picked: 3-5

• The skinny: You know how Kevin Durant couldn't bench-press 185 pounds? Horford did it 20 times. He's not a great athlete, but he's rock solid and the most physical interior presence in the draft after Oden. He's raw offensively and a bit mechanical in the post but can pass.

NEXT IN LINE

Spencer Hawes (Washington) 7 feet, 244 pounds Pick: 10-15

• Can score facing the basket or with his back to it

Sean Williams (Boston College) 6 feet 10, 235 pounds Pick: 20-32

• Outstanding shot-blocker, but he has big concerns off the court

Aaron Gray (Pittsburgh) 7 feet 1, 271 pounds Pick: 25-32

• He's big, and big always seems to rise come draft day

Shooting Guard Nick Young SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 6 FEET 6, 206 POUNDS

• Where he'll be picked: 10-18

• The skinny: He has something you don't see in the league much today -- a deadly midrange jumper. He has a nice array of spin moves and can create space to get off his shot. He can also post his man and score. One knock is that he settles for the outside shot too quickly.

Rodney Stuckey EASTERN WASHINGTON 6 FEET 4, 207 POUNDS

• Where he'll be picked: 15-20

• The skinny: A versatile athlete who can play either guard spot. Stuckey is strong, slashes to the basket and gets to the free-throw line. He needs to improve his ball-handling and decision making, but he plays hard at both ends of the floor.

NEXT IN LINE

Rudy Fernandez (Spain) 6 feet 5, 185 pounds Pick: 15-20

• Versatile, creative and has a knack for making the big play

Marco Belinelli (Italy) 6 feet 5, 192 pounds Pick: 15-20

• One of the top shooting guards in Europe

Morris Almond (Rice) 6 feet 6, 215 pounds Pick: 22-32

• Can score from anywhere on the floor

Daequan Cook (Ohio State) 6 feet 5, 203 pounds Pick: 25-32

• Athletic with a quick release and a smooth handle

Point Guard Mike Conley Jr. OHIO STATE 6 FEET, 175 POUNDS

• Where he'll be picked: 3-8

• The skinny: He's a pass-first point guard who is intense and has a good feel for the game. Baseline to baseline, he's the quickest player in this draft and loves to push the ball. He can run the pick-and-roll, penetrate and finish at the basket with either hand. He needs to improve his jump shot.

Acie Law TEXAS A&M 6 FEET 3, 186 POUNDS

• Where he'll be picked: 10-15

• The skinny: Conley might have more upside, but Law is the point guard in this draft most likely to contribute from day one. He's effective in the halfcourt and in transition. He has a good first step and body control, allowing him to finish in the lane when hit. He's not much of a three-point threat, but he's something more important -- a leader.

Javaris Crittenton GEORGIA TECH 6 FEET 4, 194 POUNDS

• Where he'll be picked: 10-18

• The skinny: He has great size and athleticism for the position. He's an excellent ball handler but tends to dribble too much. He has a much better feel in transition than in a halfcourt set. He also takes some bad shots, but that probably comes with youth. He's a willing and able defender with quick hands to rack up steals.

NEXT IN LINE

Gabriel Pruitt (Southern California) 6 feet 4, 170 pounds Pick: 25-32

• Combo guard who creates shots for his teammates

Taurean Green (Florida) 6 feet, 173 pounds Pick: 25-32

• Can go to his left or right and is a decent defender

NBA DRAFT

When: 7:30 tonight

Where: Madison Square Garden, New York

TV: ESPN

DRAFT ORDER First round

1. Portland Trail Blazers

2. Seattle SuperSonics

3. Atlanta Hawks

4. Memphis Grizzlies

5. Boston Celtics

6. Milwaukee Bucks

7. Minnesota Timberwolves

8. Charlotte Bobcats

9. Chicago Bulls

10. Sacramento Kings

11. Atlanta Hawks

12. Philadelphia 76ers

13. New Orleans Hornets

14. Los Angeles Clippers

15. Detroit Pistons

16. Washington Wizards

17. New Jersey Nets

18. Golden State Warriors

19. Los Angeles Lakers

20. Miami Heat

21. Philadelphia 76ers

22. Charlotte Bobcats

23. New York Knicks

24. Phoenix Suns

25. Utah Jazz

26. Houston Rockets

27. Detroit Pistons

28. San Antonio Spurs

29. Phoenix Suns

30. Philadelphia 76ers

Second round

31. Seattle SuperSonics

32. Boston Celtics

33. San Antonio Spurs

34. Dallas Mavericks

35. Seattle SuperSonics

36. Golden State Warriors

37. Portland Trail Blazers

38. Philadelphia 76ers

39. Miami Heat

40. Los Angeles Lakers

41. Minnesota Timberwolves

42. Portland TrailBlazers

43. New Orleans Hornets

44. Orlando Magic

45. Los Angles Clippers

46. Golden State Warriors

47. Washington Wizards

48. Los Angeles Lakers

49. Chicago Bulls

50. Dallas Mavericks

51. Chicago Bulls

52. Portland Trail Blazers

53. Portland Trail Blazers

54. Orlando Magic

55. Utah Jazz

56. Milwaukee Bucks

57. Detroit Pistons

58. San Antonio Spurs

59. Phoenix Suns

60. Dallas Mavericks

-- Prospect capsules by David Moore, The Dallas Morning News

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